How can you use pair programming to enforce coding standards?

Coding standards are things people learnt over time while developing software and finding out things which worked best for them. The things which did not work well are called anti patterns. Why use coding standards ? Softwares are not a one time thing and needs changes and additions. You follow standards so that addition of the feature does not collapse the system and your system does not become a maintenance nightmare.

Coding standards are a set of guidelines that have been established to ensure better readability as well as better performance of the code. The standards can be relative as well as universal. For instance, having meaningful variable names can be considered a global coding standard. Having a particular way to name those variables can vary from organisation to organisation - some might prefer camel casing while some may prefer snake casing, hence these can be relative to different orgs. One thing to note is that coding standards are a set of guidelines - it is not that if the standards are not followed, the code won't work. It might definitely would, but then not everyone might be able to read/relate to it.

In my experience, coding standards act like a playbook for developers. They provide clear rules on naming, formatting, and documentation, making our code organized and easy to work with. By sticking to these guidelines, we ensure our code is readable, maintainable, and collaborative within the team. Following coding standards not only keeps things consistent but also encourages best practices in software development.

Leverage pair programming to enforce coding standards by having one developer write the code while the other reviews in real-time. This collaborative approach ensures adherence to coding standards as issues are identified and addressed immediately. Rotate roles regularly to share insights and enhance knowledge transfer. The continuous feedback loop inherent in pair programming fosters a culture of code quality, reinforcing adherence to established standards throughout the development process.

Everyone has their interpretations and this makes human beings unique and at the same time very difficult to understand one another. To reduce the overwhelm of everyone following their path there are coding standards that need to be adhered to.

Normalmente se toman los estándares ya existentes en la empresa de software, pero lo interesante es que incluso, a través de la programación en pares, se pueden analizar y mejorar estos estándares.

Pair programming on important decisions while coding will take your design to another level. How pair programming really helps ? 1. Increased focus on the problem you are trying to solve, no personal distractions. 2. Brainstorming the difficult parts, instant review of your proposal. 3. People with diverse experiences putting their thought into it brings the right standards for the right problems. 4. Quicker implementation of design patterns and pointing out differences between theoretical vs practical implementation.

Pair with someone who are active, critical, and asks questions. Get used to someone who asks you why are you using certain approach, challenge your idea, or giving some other opinion to reach the same goal of delivering quality code within a time box. Passive pairing will be a waste of both time

Improve your coding skills by collaborating with someone slightly more experienced. This "stretch zone" pushes you to learn and grow, while your partner benefits from your fresh perspective. It's like a perfect exercise routine, challenging but never overwhelming.

To facilitate effective pair programming, create a comfortable, distraction-free workspace where both participants can easily communicate. Ensure a stable and secure internet connection, and equip yourselves with a robust code editor or IDE, alongside a dependable version control system. For clear audio and video communication, platforms like Zoom, Skype, Slack, or Google Hangouts are ideal. For collaborative coding, consider using tools like Visual Studio Code Live Share, CodeSandbox, or GitPod, which enable seamless real-time code sharing and editing. This setup fosters a conducive environment for productive and collaborative programming sessions.

Pair programming serves as a powerful tool for enforcing coding standards by fostering collaborative code review in real-time. With two minds engaged, it becomes easier to catch syntax errors, ensure adherence to naming conventions, and maintain consistent formatting. By discussing each line of code as it's written, team members can share insights and collectively agree on best practices, reinforcing a unified coding style. Moreover, the constant interchange of ideas promotes knowledge transfer, allowing less experienced developers to learn from their peers and adopt established standards.

Be open to feedback because the fact is everyone operates by viewing the world through their lens. By accepting feedback you get a chance to look at the problem in a new manner.

One of the greatest advantages of enhancing your programming skills through pair programming is by gathering feedback. This is because it provides instantaneous feedback! So, don't hesitate to share your perspectives and ask your pair for opinions on your reasoning. This is an opportunity for both of you to connect and learn from each other. Also, participate in open-source projects or mentorships; they help you have other people working on the same project as you, adding different perspectives to the code you're trying to write.

Pair programming not only aligns code with team standards but also fosters continuous learning and knowledge sharing, crucial in a dynamic field like software development. In my experience, particularly with MuleSoft, it's essential to regularly sync on best practices and design patterns for APIs and integrations. This collaborative approach ensures that both partners are up-to-date with the latest in system design, AI, microservices, and cloud computing. Celebrating successes and recognizing challenges keeps the team motivated and focused on quality and innovation.

Don't overcomplicate things, I know I say this many times, but using too much linter and setting over the top standards, may result your peer programming end before it even began, always make sure to have fun during the process.

Desde mi perspectiva, existen aún más beneficios: traspaso limpio de información y conocimientos, desarrollo de empatía, aprendizaje de nuevas perspectivas de programación, adquisición de paciencia y otras habilidades de enseñanza, generación de confianza con el socio programador y, finalmente, generar el mejor código posible.

By all means use pair programming but not with the sole goal to enforce coding standards 🤯. Enforce coding standards with automation such as linters. It’s faster and cheaper. And instead, use pair programming to solve problems faster and enrich perspectives on the way, not to teach standards that can be read in a book 🙏.